Admissions Policy - St Brendans College Killarney

1. Introduction

This Admission Policy complies with the requirements of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and the Equal Status Act 2000. In drafting this policy, the board of management of the school has consulted with school staff, the school patron and with parents of children attending the school.

The policy was approved by the Board of Management on 29^th September, 2020 and by the school patron on 7^th October, 2020. It is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy, on request, to any person who requests it.

The relevant dates and timelines for the St Brendan’s College admission process are set out in the school’s annual admission notice which is published annually on the school’s website at least one week before the commencement of the admission process for the school year concerned.

This policy must be read in conjunction with the annual admission notice for the school year concerned.

The application form for admission is published on the school’s website and will be made available in hardcopy on request to any person who requests it.

2. Characteristic spirit and general objectives of the school

St Brendan’s College is a Catholic all boys voluntary secondary school with a Catholic ethos under the trusteeship of the Bishop of Kerry.

“Catholic Ethos” in the context of a Catholic voluntary secondary school means the ethos and characteristic spirit of the Roman Catholic Church, which aims at promoting:

the full and harmonious development of all aspects of the person of the pupil, including the intellectual, physical, cultural, moral and spiritual aspects; and
a living relationship with God and with other people; and
a philosophy of life inspired by belief in God and in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus; and
the formation of the pupils in the Catholic faith,

and which school provides religious education in accordance with the doctrines, practices and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church, and/or such ethos and/or characteristic spirit as may be determined or interpreted from time to time by the Irish Episcopal Conference.

In accordance with S.15 (2) (b) of the Education Act, 1998 the Board of Management of St. Brendan’s College shall uphold, and be accountable to the patron for so upholding, the characteristic spirit of the school as determined by the cultural, educational, moral, religious, social, linguistic and spiritual values and traditions which inform and are characteristic of the objectives and conduct of the school.

Mission Statement

St. Brendan’s College, Killarney, is a non-selective, Diocesan, Secondary School with a Board of Management. It is a vibrant community of Students, Staff, Parents and Management, founded on the Christian values of justice, truth and honesty which permeate all aspects of school life and in which the participants find fulfilment.

The school, while conscious of its bountiful heritage, recognises the need for professional development to meet the challenges of a changing world.

The school aspires

To develop the whole person, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, social, cultural and physical.
To promote academic excellence to the full potential of each student.
To equip students with life-skills and develop leadership qualities.
To foster the ideals of gender equity and equality of opportunity.
To inculcate good standards of behaviour and respect for one another in a well ordered, supportive and caring environment.

While respecting the conscience and convictions of each member of the School Community, the education given in this college promotes a sense of identity enriched by an awareness of its Catholic tradition.

3. Admission Statement

St Brendan’s College will not discriminate in its admission of a student to the school on any of the following:

the gender ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the civil status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the family status ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the sexual orientation ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the religion ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the disability ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the ground of race of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned,
the Traveller community ground of the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned, or
the ground that the student or the applicant in respect of the student concerned has special educational needs

As per section 61(3) of the Education Act 1998, ‘civil status ground’, ‘disability ground’, ‘discriminate’, ‘family status ground’, ‘gender ground’, ‘ground of race’, ‘religion ground’, ‘sexual orientation ground’ and ‘Traveller community ground’ shall be construed in accordance with section 3 of the Equal Status Act 2000.

St Brendan’s College is an all-boys school and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit a girl applying for admission to this school.

All denominational schools

St Brendan’s College is a school whose objective is to provide education in an environment which promotes certain religious values and does not discriminate where it refuses to admit as a student a person who is not of a Catholic tradition and it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.

Schools with special education classes

St Brendan’s College is a school which has established a class, with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, which provides an education exclusively for students with a category or categories of special educational needs specified by the Minister and may refuse to admit to the class a student who does not have the category of needs specified.

4. Categories of Special Educational Needs catered for in the school/special class

St Brendan’s College with the approval of the Minister for Education and Skills, has established a class to provide an education exclusively for students with a Multiple Disabilities category or categories of SEN and has established a class for students with an ASD diagnosis.

5. Admission of Students

This school shall admit each student seeking admission except where –

the school is oversubscribed (please see section 6 below for further details)
a parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student

A school that admits students of one gender only

St Brendan’s College provides education exclusively for boys and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of the gender provided for by this school.

All denominational schools

St Brendan’s College is a Catholic school and may refuse to admit as a student a person who is not of a Catholic faith where it is proved that the refusal is essential to maintain the ethos of the school.

Special education classes

Class A – Multiple Disabilities

The special class attached to St Brendan’s College provides an education exclusively for students (to a maximum of 6) with Multiple Disabilities category or categories of special educational needs and the school may refuse admission to this class, where the student concerned does not have the specified category of special educational needs provided for in this class. An MD Class Admissions Policy is available on the school website and from the office on request. The MD Class is full for the academic year 2023/2024.

Class B – ASD Support Class

The second and third special classes accept students with an ASD diagnosis (to a maximum of 6 students per class) where the report recommends inclusion in a mainstream setting as best for the student. An ASD Class Admissions Policy is available on the school website and from the office on request. The two ASD Classes are full for the academic year 2023/2024.

6. Oversubscription

In the event that the school is oversubscribed, the school will, when deciding on applications for admission, apply the following selection criteria in the order listed below to those applications that are received within the timeline for receipt of applications as set out in the school’s annual admission notice:

St. Brendan’s College is committed to an Admission Policy which reflects the spirit and meaning of the Education Act 1998, the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and the Equal Status Act 2000.

It is the responsibility of the Board of Management to ensure the safety, health and welfare of all members of the school community; this includes the student body as well as the staff. In recent years, as the population of our catchment area has grown, the demands of the School have correspondingly increased to the point where overcrowding has become a health and safety issue for the school. Since in any premises there is a limit on the numbers of persons that can safely be accommodated, the Board has determined, having taken account of expert opinion in the area, that the total student population should be capped at 905, broken down by year groups as follows:

1^st year 160; 2^nd year 162; 3^rd year 161; Transition year 98; 5^th year 156; and 6^th year 115; LCA 5^th 16; LCA 6^th 11 – These numbers will be reviewed annually by the Board of Management.

Selection criteria

Where Application Forms received by the closing date above, exceed the number of places available, the Board of Management directs that the places will be allocated in the following order of priority:-

Brothers, stepbrothers, half-brothers, foster brothers of students who are or have been enrolled in St Brendan’s College
Students whose father or mother is contracted (in the current academic year) as a teacher, SNA, administrative or caretaking staff in St. Brendan’s College.
Brothers, (step, half or foster brothers) of girls who are enrolled in St. Brigid’s Secondary on the date of application (applications for eligibility under this criteria authorise the Principal of St. Brendan’s College to confer with the Principal of St. Brigid’s Secondary to verify same)
Sons of eligible staff (in the current academic year) of St. Brigid’s Secondary. (Any application to St. Brendan’s College authorises the Principal of St. Brendan’s College to confer with the Principal of St. Brigid’s Secondary to verify same)
Students whose parents or grandparents were past pupils of St. Brendan’s College (to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in our admission notice)
Students from the Primary schools in the greater Killarney area. (See Appendix 1 at the end of this document)
All other students living in the greater Killarney area

If the number of applicants within a particular category exceeds the balance number of places available, then the date of birth of each student shall be used to determine maximum eligibility. The oldest students within the category will have greatest priority.

In the event that there are two or more students tied for a place or places in any of the selection criteria categories above (the number of applicants exceeds the number of remaining places), the following arrangements will apply:

A draw will take place if two students are tied on the final criteria for the last available place. This draw will be attended by the Chairperson of the Board of Management, Chairperson of the Parents’ Council, an external education professional nominated by the Patron and the Principal.

7. What will not be considered or taken into account

In accordance with section 62(7)(e) of the Education Act, the school will not consider or take into account any of the following in deciding on applications for admission or when placing a student on a waiting list for admission to the school:

Points (a) to (g) must be included here by all schools.

a student’s prior attendance at a pre-school or pre-school service, including naíonraí,
the payment of fees or contributions (howsoever described) to the school;
a student’s academic ability, skills or aptitude;

(other than in relation to:

admission to a special class insofar as it is necessary in order to ascertain whether or not the student has the category of special educational needs concerned.

the occupation, financial status, academic ability, skills or aptitude of a student’s parents;
a requirement that a student, or his or her parents, attend an interview, open day or other meeting as a condition of admission;
In relation to parents and grandparents having attended, a school may only apply this criteria to a maximum of 25% of the available spaces as set out in the school’s annual admission notice).
the date and time on which an application for admission was received by the school.

This is subject to the application being received at any time during the period specified for receiving applications set out in the annual admission notice of the school for the school year concerned.

8. Decisions on applications

All decisions on applications for admission to St. Brendan’s College will be based on the following:

Our school’s admission policy
The school’s annual admission notice (where applicable)
The information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our annual admission notice for receiving applications

(Please see section 14 below in relation to applications received outside of the admissions period and section 15 below in relation to applications for places in years other than the intake group.)

Selection criteria that are not included in our school admission policy will not be used to make a decision on an application for a place in our school.

9. Notifying applicants of decisions

Applicants will be informed in writing as to the decision of the school, within the timeline outlined in the annual admissions notice.

If a student is not offered a place in our school, the reasons why they were not offered a place will be communicated in writing to the applicant, including, where applicable, details of the student’s ranking against the selection criteria and details of the student’s place on the waiting list for the school year concerned.

Applicants will be informed of the right to seek a review/right of appeal of the school’s decision (see section 18 below for further details).

10. Acceptance of an offer of a place by an applicant

In accepting an offer of admission from St. Brendan’s College, you must indicate—

(i) whether or not you have accepted an offer of admission for another school or schools. If you have accepted such an offer, you must also provide details of the offer or offers concerned and
(ii) whether or not you have applied for and awaiting confirmation of an offer of admission from another school or schools, and if so, you must provide details of the other school or schools concerned.

Applicants should be aware that failure to disclose this information on the acceptance of a place may lead to an offer being withdrawn by the school.

11. Circumstances in which offers may not be made or may be withdrawn

An offer of admission may not be made or may be withdrawn by St. Brendan’s College where—

(i) it is established that information contained in the application is false or misleading.
(ii) an applicant fails to confirm acceptance of an offer of admission on or before the date set out in the annual admission notice of the school.
(iii) the parent of a student, when required by the principal in accordance with section 23(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, fails to confirm in writing that the code of behaviour of the school is acceptable to him or her and that he or she shall make all reasonable efforts to ensure compliance with such code by the student; or
(iv) an applicant has failed to comply with the requirements of ‘acceptance of an offer’ as set out in section 10

12. Sharing of Data with other schools

Applicants should be aware that section 66(6) of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 allows for the sharing of data between schools in order to facilitate the efficient admission of students. Section 66(6) allows a school to provide a patron or another board of management with a list of the students in relation to whom—

(i) an application for admission to the school has been received,
(ii) an offer of admission to the school has been made, or
(iii) an offer of admission to the school has been accepted.

The list may include any or all of the following:

(i) the date on which an application for admission was received by the school;
(ii) the date on which an offer of admission was made by the school;
(iii) the date on which an offer of admission was accepted by an applicant;
(iv) a student’s personal details including his or her name, address, date of birth and personal public service number (within the meaning of section 262 of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005).

13. Waiting list in the event of oversubscription

In the event of there being more applications to the school year concerned than places available, a waiting list of students whose applications for admission to St. Brendan’s College were unsuccessful due to the school being oversubscribed will be compiled and will remain valid for the school year in which admission is being sought.

Placement on the waiting list of St. Brendan’s College is in the order of priority assigned to the students’ applications after the school has applied the selection criteria in accordance with this admission policy.

Offers of any subsequent places that become available for and during the school year in relation to which admission is being sought will be made to those students on the waiting list, in accordance with the order of priority in relation to which the students have been placed on the list.

14. Late Applications

All applications for admission received after the closing date as outlined in the annual admission notice will be considered and decided upon in accordance with our school’s admissions policy, the Education Admissions to School Act 2018 and any regulations made under that Act.

Late applicants will be notified of the decision in respect of their application not later than three weeks after the date on which the school received the application. Late applicants will be offered a place if there is a place available. In the event that there is no place available, the name of the applicant will be added to the waiting list.

15. Procedures for admission of students to other years and during the school year

The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school to classes or years other than the school’s intake group are as follows:

The school will make every reasonable effort to facilitate a student seeking a transfer to our school. The Board of Management will decide on applications for admission to any other year other than First Year by applying the following criteria:

A transfer is in agreement with the school’s Admissions Policy
A transfer is in the best interests of the student and the school
A transfer is of educational benefit to the student

The application form must be accompanied by

an academic progress report
an attendance record
a punctuality record
a behaviour report
a reference from the Principal of the previous school

It may be necessary for a consultation with the Educational Welfare Officer to take place. Where a student is considered for a place, the decision will be taken by the Board of Management, in consultation with the student’s parents/guardians, his former school, the education welfare officer, whether such a place may be offered, immediately, or whether it would be better to wait until the beginning of the next academic year.

The procedures of the school in relation to the admission of students who are not already admitted to the school, after the commencement of the school year in which admission is sought, are as follows:

St. Brendan’s College will only consider an enrolment after the commencement of the school year in exceptional cases. A written application to the Board of Management will initiate the process at which point a decision to enrol invokes the procedures outlined in Section 15 (above).

16. Declaration in relation to the non-charging of fees

The board of St Brendan’s College or any persons acting on its behalf shall not, except in accordance with section 64 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018, charge fees for or seek payment or contributions (howsoever described) as a condition of-

an application for admission of a student to the school, or
the admission or continued enrolment of a student in the school.

17. Arrangements regarding students not attending religious instruction

A parent of a student, or a student who has reached the age of 18, who wishes to attend St.

Brendan’s College without attending religious instruction should make a written request to the Principal. A meeting will be then be arranged with the parent(s) or the student, as the case may be, to discuss how the request may be accommodated by the school.

18. Reviews/appeals

Review of decisions by the Board of Management

The parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may request the board to review a decision to refuse admission. Such requests must be made in accordance with Section 29C of the Education Act 1998.

The timeline within which such a review must be requested and the other requirements applicable to such reviews are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.

The board will conduct such reviews in accordance with the requirements of the procedures determined under Section 29B and with section 29C of the Education Act 1998.

Note: Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.

Where an applicant has been refused admission due to a reason other than the school being oversubscribed, the applicant may request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.

Right of appeal

Under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998, the parent of the student, or in the case of a student who has reached the age of 18 years, the student, may appeal a decision of this school to refuse admission.

An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(i) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due to the school being oversubscribed.

An appeal may be made under Section 29 (1)(c)(ii) of the Education Act 1998 where the refusal to admit was due a reason other than the school being oversubscribed.

Where an applicant has been refused admission due to the school being oversubscribed, the applicant must request a review of that decision by the board of management prior to making an appeal under section 29 of the Education Act 1998. (see Review of decisions by the Board of Management)

Appeals under Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 will be considered and determined by an independent appeals committee appointed by the Minister for Education and Skills.

The timeline within which such an appeal must be made and the other requirements applicable to such appeals are set out in the procedures determined by the Minister under section 29B of the Education Act 1998 which are published on the website of the Department of Education and Skills.

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER KILLARNEY AREA 2023/24

Anabla National School
Barraduff National School
Coolick National School
Cullina National School
Faha National School
Firies National School
Fossa National School
Gaelscoil Faithleann
Glenflesk National School
Kilcummin National School
Knockaderry National School
Knockanes National School
Lissivigeen National School
Loreto National School
Loughquittane National School
Presentation Monastery School
Raheen National School
St Olivers National School
Tiernaboul National School
Two Mile Community National School